Portable Air Conditioners
A portable air conditioner (AC) is a self-contained, refrigeration-based product that, similar to a room air conditioner, removes latent and sensible heat from the ambient air in a single space such as a room. Typical reported cooling capacities are 8,000-14,000 British thermal units per hour (Btu/h). However, unlike a room air conditioner, it is not permanently installed in a wall or window. It is typically designed with wheels to allow it to be readily moved, since residential units may weigh 50 to 90 pounds and are generally between 28 and 36 inches tall, and commercial units are even larger. Some units also include options for operating as a dehumidifier and/or heater, with heating means provided by either an electric resistance heater, or by operating the unit as a heat pump. Water that is condensed from the portable AC may be collected in a bucket for manual removal, drained through a gravity hose, or evaporated and exhausted with the condenser process air.
On July 5, 2013, DOE issued a notice of proposed determiniation (NOPD), in which DOE announced that it tentatively determined that portable ACs meet the criteria under 42 U.S.C. 6282(b)(1) to be classified as a covered product. 78 FR 40403.
On May 9, 2014, DOE published in the Federal Register a notice of data availability (NODA) in which it agreed that a DOE test procedure for portable ACs would provide consistency and clarity for representations of energy use of these products. 79 FR 26639.
Recent Updates | Standards | Test Procedures | Waiver, Exception, and Exemption Information | Statutory Authority | Historical Information | Contact Information
The Department
of Energy has published a Federal Register notice
changing the comment period pertaining to energy conservation standards for
portable air conditioners. The comment period closes on September 26, 2016. 81 FR 53961 (August 15, 2016). For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
DOE has published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to energy conservation standards for portable air conditioners. 81FR38398 (June 13, 2016). DOE will also host a public meeting Wednesday, July 20, 2016 in Washington, DC. For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
DOE has published
Federal Register final rule pertaining to test procedures for portable air conditioners.
81 FR 35242 (June 1, 2016). For more information, please see the
rulemaking page.
DOE has published a final determination pertaining to energy conservation standards for portable air conditioners. 81 FR 22514 (April 18, 2016). For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
Standards for Portable Air Conditioners
There are currently no Standards for Portable A/C Units
Current Test Procedure
Available Test Procedures
There are currently at least three portable AC test procedures applicable to products sold in North America, all of which appear to be harmonized at least to some extent. Note that none of these test procedures factor in the thermal load added to the conditioned space due to the heat losses from the typical uninsulated ducting, which could contribute to the significant difference between rated and field-measured EERs discussed in a later section.
ANSI/AHAM PAC-1-2009 "Portable Air Conditioners." This test procedure covers portable ACs with air- or water-cooling, and contains provisions for testing units with different ducting configurations. It excludes, however, air conditioners that are computer or data processing room air conditioners within the scope of ANSI/ASHRAE-127-2001. Cooling mode testing is conducted in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE 37-2005 “Methods of Testing for Rating Unitary Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment.” The metrics incorporated in this test procedure include:
- Single Duct Capacity, Dual Duct Capacity, Spot Cooling Capacity, and Water Cooled Condenser Capacity
- Single Duct Energy Efficiency Ratio (SD-EER), Dual Duct Energy Efficiency Ratio (DD-EER), Spot Cooling Energy Efficiency Ratio (SC-EER), and Water Cooler Condenser Energy Efficiency Ratio (WCC-ERR)
The test procedure notes that dual duct cooling capacity and EER are comparable to the cooling capacity and EER of window (room) air conditioning units of equivalent rating. It also measures standby power in what we would consider inactive mode according to IEC 62301 2007 CD, which is a committee draft version.
ANSI/ASHRAE 128-2011 "Method of Rating Unitary Spot Air Conditioners." This test method was adapted from CSA C370-09.
CAN/CSA 370-2013 “Cooling Performance of Portable Air Conditioners.” Information suggests that this has been harmonized with AHAM PAC-1.
There are none at this time.
Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 6291 et seq.), sets forth various provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. Part A of Title III of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309) established the "Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles," which covers consumer products and certain commercial products (hereafter referred to as “covered products”). In addition to specifying a list of covered residential and commercial products, EPCA contains provisions that enable the Secretary of Energy to classify additional types of consumer products as covered products (42 U.S.C 6292(a)(20)). For a given product to be classified as a covered product, the Secretary must determine that:
- Classifying the product as a covered product is necessary for the purposes of EPCA; and
- The average annual per-household energy use by products of such type is likely to exceed 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. (42 U.S.C. 6292(b)(1))
In order to prescribe an energy conservation standard pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(o) and (p) for covered products added pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6292(b)(1), the Secretary must also determine that:
- The average household energy use of the products has exceeded 150 kWh per household for a 12-month period;
- The aggregate 12-month energy use of the products has exceeded 4.2 terrawatt-hours (TWh);
- Substantial improvement in energy efficiency is technologically feasible; and
- Application of a labeling rule under 42 U.S.C. 6294 is unlikely to be sufficient to induce manufacturers to produce, and consumers and other persons to purchase, covered products of such type (or class) that achieve the maximum energy efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6295(l)(1)).
There are currently no DOE test procedures or energy conservation standards for portable ACs.
On July 5, 2013, DOE issued a notice of proposed determiniation (NOPD), in which DOE announced that it tentatively determined that portable ACs meet the criteria under 42 U.S.C. 6282(b)(1) to be classified as a covered product. 78 FR 40403.
On May 9, 2014, DOE published in the Federal Register a notice of data availability (NODA) in which it agreed that a DOE test procedure for portable ACs would provide consistency and clarity for representations of energy use of these products. 79 FR 26639.
Helpful Links and Contact Information
Helpful Links
Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.
For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:
portable_ACs@ee.doe.gov
